Plastic ski boot

ABSTRACT

A boot of heavy gauge plastic having a molded plastic foot portion having sole with parallel sides, a gaiter of heavy gauge plastic pivoted to the foot portion, and an inner sock and tongue member for receiving a formable, stable dialatent material such as polybutadiene.

United States Patent Inventor Robert B. Lange Washington Building, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Appl. No. 789,151 Filed Jan. 6, 1969 Patented July 20, 1971 PLASTIC SKI BOOT 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 36/25, 36/71 lnt. CI A431) 00/00, A6 1f 5/00 Fieldol'Search 36/2.5,71

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,237,319 3/1966 Hanson 36/2.5 3,239,952 3/1966 Lange etal. 36/2.5 3,362,091 1/1968 Drago 36/2.5

Primary Examiner- Patrick D. Lawson Artorney.lohn J. Byrne ABSTRACT: A boot of heavy gauge plastic having a molded plastic foot portion having sole with parallel sides, a gaiter of heavy gauge plastic pivoted to the foot portion, and an inner sock and tongue member for receiving a formable, stable dialatent material such as polybutadiene.

PATENTEU JuL20 l97l SHEET 1 OF 2 F/GJ INVENTOR ROBERT E. LANGE ATTOI'? EY PATENTED JULZO IHH SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOI? noamr a LANGE g} TURN/FY PLASTIC SKI BOOT This invention relates to a ski boot and more particularly to a plastic ski boot wherein the parts are constructed and arranged for maximum control while retaining good comfort.

Plastic ski boots are now well known to the ski manufacturing arts. An example of such a boot is described in my copending application Ser. No. 441,398 entitled SKI BOOT, filed Mar. 14, 1968 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,952. The advantages and disadvantages of plastic ski boots are many and varied with the advantages far outweighing the disadvantages. Some of the principal advantages of plastic boots are their resistance to water, their rigidity during skiing, their resistance to scuffing from ice and ski edges, and the ease with which they can be manufactured of a variety of colors.

In the manufacture of boots of the plastic type, the molds and lasts constitute a major expense. Additionally, perfection of fit is of major importance. The ski boot is the principal connection between the ski and the skier and for this reason control is established and is limited by the efficiency with which the boot operates as a connection between the leg and the ski.

The ski industry has developed a variety of very rigid boots which permit limited forward flexing of the wearers leg but which restrict other movements. Many skiers develop bone spurs and other foot imperfections as a result of the constant pressures which are applied to the foot as a result of skiing in these rigid boots. There has been a variety of materials utilized for protecting the wearers foot and ankle from such rigid boots. One such material of particular interest is the polybutadiene material taught by Alden W. Hanson in his application for Pat. Ser. No. 535,257, filed Jan. 12, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,411.

One of the principal objectives of this invention is to provide a ski boot which utilizes a material such as the polybutadiene to its maximum extent. In general, this objective is ac complished by making and utilizing a buckled, rigid plastic boot having parallel side soles and a pivoted gaiter and providing the polybutadiene in the ankle, sole and tongue portions thereof.

Another objective of this invention is to provide an inner liner for a plastic ski boot which forms pockets for the reception of removable polybutadiene pads.

These and other objectives of the invention will become more apparent when the following description is read in light of the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ski boot;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective.

Referring now to the drawings where like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral indicates the boot of this invention. The outer shell is indicated by the numeral 12. The shell is comprised of an integral unit having a sole portion 14, an upper 16, an ankle gaiter portion 18 and having the standard foot opening, defined by flaps 20 and 22. The buckles for closing the foot openings are indicated by the numeral 20. The sole 14 is defined by the two parallel sides 22 and 24.

The gaiter 18 is pivoted to the foot portion at 26. On either side of the pivot 26 the boot is formed with accordianlike bellow deformations 28 and 30 which aid and limit the hinging movement between 16 and 18.

The inner liner of the boot is indicated by the numeral 40. This liner can be made of Corfam and is comprised of three basic elements; a foot-receiving portion 42, an ankle portion 44 and a tongue 43. The tongue of course closes the footreceiving opening. The tongue has a pocket to receive a padding 56. Ankle portion 44 has a return flap which extends downwardly as shown by the numeral 48 to define pockets around the ankle. The pockets are for the reception of the upper edge of a padding element 50. The inner liner 40 is inserted into a thermoplastic counter 52 which fits within the portion 16. The boot is equipped with a pliable innersole 48 having a pocket to receive a addin 54.

As can be seen from the a ove, t e foot of the skier IS quite closely confined within the counter. When the counter and the foot are secured within the heavy gauge plastic shell, a very heavy object is carried by the foot and ankle of the skier. This, coupled with the very secure connection between the boot and the skier which is made possible with the parallel-side sole and modern binding techniques, transmits substantial forces to the skier while he is moving. However, by providing the boot with the dialatent polybutadiene around the foot and ankle both fore and aft, a comfortable boot is provided while the foot is at rest and a secure boot while traversing a course. It is suggested that a high viscosity polybutadiene having a minimum yield point of at least 4 grams per square centimeter and a viscosity between about 100,000 and about 40,000,000 poises at 0 F. and F. be utilized.

I claim:

1. A ski boot comprising a foot-receiving portion having a foot opening, a gaiter member mounted pivotally with respect to said foot-receiving portion, buckle means to close said opening, a sole defining the bottom of said portion and said sole having parallel longitudinal sides, a liner having pockets within said gaiter and foot-receiving portion, padding means in said pockets closely conforming to the shape of the foot of a wearer, said padding being of a high viscosity substance having a yield point of at least 4 grams per square centimeter and.

a viscosity between about 100,000 and about 40,000,000

poises at 0 F. and 80 F. and a thermoplastic counter disposed between said foot-receiving portion and said liner.

2. The ski boot of claim 1 wherein a pad filled with a high viscosity material is disposed along the bottom of said counter. 

1. A ski boot comprising a foot-receiving portion having a foot opening, a gaiter member mounted pivotally with respect to said foot-receiving portion, buckle means to close said opening, a sole defining the bottom of said portion and said sole having parallel longitudinal sides, a liner having pockets within said gaiter and foot-receiving portion, padding means in said pockets closely conforming to the shape of the foot of a wearer, said padding being of a high viscosity substance having a yield point of at least 4 grams per square centimeter and a viscosity between about 100,000 and about 40,000,000 poises at 0* F. and 80* F. and a thermoplastic counter disposed between said foot-receiving portion and said liner.
 2. The ski boot of claim 1 wherein a pad filled with a high viscosity material is disposed along the bottom of said counter. 